Sunday March 8th

Hello Saints! I apologize for not getting a blog posted for last Sunday. I had a busy week. We hope to see everyone on Sunday. Bishop Carl Hayes will be bringing the message entitled "Faith That Works Or Doesn't Work". Dealing with issues such as;

• How can Paul say in Titus 3:5 "Not by works of righteousness which we have done...." and yet James says in James 2:26 "...faith without works is dead..."

Who is right? Why?

Just a few announcements to pass along. We have one birthday to celebrate this week. Johnathan Hayes will be turning 12 on March the 12th so be sure and wish him a happy birthday. Also, due to the majority of us attending the grace conference in Tennessee, there will be no services on the 22nd or the 29th of this month. FYI, the official Tennessee countdown is at 12 days and counting. See you all on Sunday!

If you are living in the area or just visiting and are looking to attend an assembly focused on a good study from the word of God rightly divided, come and join us at 10:00 a.m. every Sunday morning. From Decatur, take 36 East to Bentonville Road (Casner,IL), take a left on Bentonville Road and go a few blocks. Our building is on the left you can't miss it. We hope to see you there.

Sunday February 22nd

Hello again Saints. We hope everyone is having a good week so far. With all the sickness going around, hopefully you all are doing good and be able to make it on Sunday. Bishop Carl Hayes will be preaching on Genesis 19 touching on topics such as:

• God's response at the Tower of Babel and the failure of mankind resulted in the creation of the nation of Israel.

The nation of Israel was supernaturally created by God.

Circumcision was a token (a sign) for Israel in the flesh reminding them that God did for them what they could not in the flesh.

Circumcision was ONLY given to the nation of Israel and NOT to the Body of Christ.

There are a few announcements for this week. On the 24th, John and Joyce McMillion will be celebrating their wedding anniversary and on the 28th, Linda Hayes will be celebrating a birthday. The official countdown to Tennessee clock is showing 26 days so if your planning on going, make sure and make your reservations today. For all the information you need on the Tennessee conference, check out the Magnified Word link at the bottom of this page. The Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg live web cams link is still at the bottom of this page also if you want to check out the scenery. If I missed any announcements, please contact me and I will try and get it on here. See you all on Sunday.

If you are from the Decatur or surrounding area or just visiting and you are wanting to hear the truth from the KJV Bible rightly divided, come visit us. If you are coming from Decatur, take 36 east to Bentonville Road (Casner, IL). Take a left on Bentonville Road, go a few blocks are building is on the left. You can't miss it.

Sunday February 15th

Wow, what a great week of weather. We hope everyone had a good week and also hope to see everyone on Sunday. Bishop Greg Hayes will be continuing a series on the family from Titus chapter 1 touching on issues such as:

• Specific instructions and responsibilities for fathers, mothers, and children

The most important ministry aspect the family

When most people or religious organizations speak of "the ministry" , or "full time ministry", they usually are not referring to God's most important full time ministry known as our individual families

In Titus chapter 1, the characteristics of a Bishop are laid out: individual character, family life, and leadership ability within his own family. These issues are dealt with before the doctrinal issues arise.

It is glaringly obvious that God does care what others think about our personal lives, actions, and family life because it may be the only example that some may ever see.

There are no new announcements to pass along. If I missed anything or forgot any birthdays please send me a note and I will try and get them on here. The official countdown to Tennessee is at 33 days and counting.

If you live in the area or just visiting the area, come and hear a clear and precise message from the word of God rightly divided. If you are coming from Decatur, take 36 east to Bentonville Road, take a left on Bentonville Road, go down a few blocks and are building is on the left. You can't miss it. We hope to see you all there.

Sunday February 8th

Hello again Saints. What a beautiful day today. Hopefully it will stay this way all weekend. We hope to see everyone Sunday. Bishop Carl Hayes will be preaching on "When and How Israel Was Created". A few points he will be touching on are:

• When God gave up the NATIONS at the Tower of Babel, He did not give up the earth to Satan and his "course of this world."
• God created the nation of Israel to eventually establish his kingdom on earth.

Circumcision, a token, (sign), to Israel, Abraham's seed, he that is born in the house, or bought with money of any stranger which is not of thy seed must be circumcized.

As far as announcements, we have two birthdays and an anniversary coming up this week. On Wednesday February 11th, Hailey Hayes will be celebrating her birthday and on Saturday February 14th, Allan Bullock will be celebrating his birthday. Also on the 14th, Allan and Mary Bullock will be celebrating their wedding anniversary. Be sure and wish these guys a happy birthday and happy anniversary when you see them. Also, don't forget to get your sweetie something sweet for Valentines Day on Saturday (busy day). One last note for those of you who are counting, 40 days til Tennessee.

If you are in the area or just visiting, please come and join us for our morning service. If you are wanting to hear the word of God taught rightly divided and not some goofy feel good stories, come and join us. If you are coming from Decatur, take 36 east to Bentonville Road, take a left on Bentonville Road and go down a few blocks we are on the left. We hope to see you there.

It didn't work

The video did'nt upload properly so I will keep trying to get it right. Hopefully I can figure this out so stay tuned.

Video Test

Hey everyone. On this post I am trying something out. I'm going to try a put a video on here and see how it turns out. If it turns out good, I'm going to video each Sunday service and post it on the blog so if some people miss services that week, or if someone is on here and wanting to hear our services, they can get on here and watch them. So.... Everybody check out this short clip that I recorded this Sunday (Feb 1st) and tell me what you think. Give me your input by leaving a comment or email me.

Sunday February 1st

Hey again everyone. We hope to see everyone this Sunday morning February 1st. Bishop Greg Hayes will be preaching, so be sure to be there and be edified by the word of God rightly divided.

There are no new announcements to send along to everyone. I hope everyone is making it through this wintery weather. The cold weather and all the snow can be depressing (unless you actually like this weather), but just think only a couple more months until spring and 46 days until the Tennessee conference.

If you are visiting or looking for an assembly to go to, come and join us. From Decatur take 36 east to Bentonville Road, then take a left on Bentonville Road, go a couple of blocks and we are on the left you can't miss us.

Sunday January 25th

Hello again saints. It's funny how 46 degrees feels like a heat wave in Central Illinois. I hope everyone was able to get out and enjoy the weather because it's back to freezing tomorrow unless you are in some place warm reading this. If that is the case, I don't want to hear it.

Please come and join us Sunday 25th for our morning services. Bishop Carl Hayes will be preaching on "God's Response At the Tower of Babel". Touching on points such as:

• Satan's success with Adam and Eve and how it continued with Cain and his seed and then intensified with the actions of some of Satan's angels in the day of Noah.
• How Satan's policy of evil appeared so successful that he was firmly in control over the affairs of this earth.
• With all this, Satan succeeded at putting this world in the course of his own design.
• God responded by giving up the nations at the tower of Babel and had another plan to repossess the earth.

Come prepared for a great study in God's word rightly divided. Also be sure and wish Carl a Happy Birthday. If you are in the area or you are visiting and are wanting to be are a part of a excellent Bible study, come and check us out and please don't leave your head at the door. You can find our assemble by taking 36 east from Decatur to Bentonville Road (Casner, IL) and take a left, then go a few blocks and we are on the left. We hope to see you there!

Sunday January 18th

Hello again. I hope everyone survived the artic breeze and I hope to see everyone Sunday morning. Bishop Greg Hayes will be bringing the message to us and I encourage everyone to be there.

Just a few announcements to pass along. We have two birthdays to remember for this week. This first birthday this week is on Tuesday the 20th, Adrik McMillion will be turning 3 years old. The second birthday this week is on Saturday the 24th, Bishop Carl Hayes will celebrate his birthday. Please keep this two in your mind this week and be sure and wish them a happy birthday.

As always, there is an open invitation for everyone to come and join us. If you are tired of the same old messages taught at all the other churches around and you are wanting to hear a good study of scriptures rightly divided encouraging you to use your mind, come visit. We are located in Casner, Illinois just outside of Decatur. From Decatur, take 36 east to Bentonville Road. Take a left on Bentonville Road, go a few blocks and are building is on the left. You can't miss it. Hope to see you there!

Wow It's Cold!

Well, it's a cold day in Illinois and going to be colder. It is suppose to get down into the single digits the next couple days and the lows below zero. I hope everyone is staying warm or at least trying to. If it is warm where you are reading this, You Stink! (just kidding).

I don't know if everyone has heard this yet but Cynthia Jordan 's(Richard Jordan's wife) father passed away (I believe) last Friday January 8th and the funeral was this past weekend in Mobile, Alabama. Richard preached at the service which is great. For those of you who have been to many funeral services you know of the false teachings and the wrong salvation messages taught at them at a time when people are really listening and searching for help. Richard posted on his blog the day by day events while he was there. Some of it quite comical talking about enjoying all the southern hospitality. You can check that out on his Grace Lifer blog. Keep the Jordan family in your thoughts and if you want to leave them a message you can go to his website (the link is at the bottom of this page graceimpact) or you can leave a comment on his blog.

As I said before, I am going to post what is going to be happening Sunday morning and any special messages so keep checking the blog for details.

COME JOIN US

We at Grace Bible Church would love for you all to join us for morning services on Sunday January 11th and hear Bishop Carl Hayes continue his series of messages on "Satan's Plan of Evil."

If you are living in the Decatur, Illinois area or just visiting, please come and join us. If you are looking for a place to hear the Word taught Rightly Divided exclusively through the authorized King James Bible, this is the place to be. We are located just outside of Decatur in Casner, Il. From Decatur, take 36 east to Bentonville Road. Take a left on Bentonville Road a few blocks and are church building is on the left you can't miss it. Services start at 10 a.m. If you need more info, please contact me through this blog.

Be sure and check out "Grace Links" at the bottom of this page for links to some great informational websites and the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg webcams site is still on there. As I mentioned on the last blog, I am personally ready for the GSMGBC and to head back to the Smoky Mountains. The picture I added to this blog is from one of our favorite spots in the Smokies. Again if your interested or just curious about this conference, click on the link to David Dowell's website "Magnified Word" and then click on conferences and you will find all the information you will need.

We hope to see you all Sunday morning!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Happy New Year to everyone. I hope that everyone enjoyed the holiday season and I'm sure everyone is ready to take on another year. I personally am going to try and keep up with this blog and putting out info for our assembly and most of all getting the word out, rightly divided, to those who need it. I'm also going to try and add more features to our blog. I added links to David Dowell and Richard Jordan's websites (at the bottom of the page) and I hope to put more on there. If anyone has any suggestions for more links, let me know. Also, if any of you March, Tennessee goers are like me, now that it is January I am getting excited to go back to the Great Smoky Mountain Grace Bible Conference in the Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg area. I added a link to a website I found last year that has some really cool web-cams on it. When you click on the link it will bring up the Pigeon Forge webcam. This cam is set up high on a building and it shows the main strip in Pigeon Forge. There is also a link on that website that goes to another webcam in Gatlinburg. This cam is setup on the space needle and shows the main strip in Gatlinburg. The coolest thing about these cams is that you can control them. You can move them back and forth, up and down, and zoom in and out. You can check out almost all your favorite spots in real time. Those of you who have'nt been to the conference, we all highly recommend it. The conference starts Friday March 20th and ends March 27th. For all the info click on the Magnified Word link at the bottom of this page. Again, Happy New Year to all and until the next blog, grace and peace.

Thank You Bishop David Dowell

The fourth of July weekend was an extra special one for the saints at Grace Bible Church. Our beloved saints from Tennessee were here to celebrate not only the freedom we have in the United States, but the freedom we have in Christ today in the dispensation of grace. Bishop David Dowell, his wife Vicki and family came and ate so much Krekels Kustard that I think he owns stock in the franchise. Brother David also graciously preached the word for us on Sunday morning. We at Grace Bible Church are so thankful for David and all he does to get the message of grace to everyone. He is a true example of an ambassador for Christ. Along with David, members of his assembly also came. Brother Cameron Schwartz, his wife Nicole and their family and Brother Johnathon Collier, his wife Katie and their family. It truly was a pleasure to be around these saints. It was evident that the word of God was effectually working through them in all that they do. We can't thank you all enough for making the long trip here to spend time with our assembly. Once again, thank you all so much we love you all. Until next time, grace and peace.

AM I GOING TO HEAVEN?

AM I GOING TO HEAVEN?

Here is a little test. Below is a list of 13 beliefs people use for salvation. Of these 13 beliefs, which ones do you think are necessary to get you to heaven?

1. Obeying the Ten Commandments


2. Doing your best


3. Living a good life


4. Good works


5. Trying to obey the Golden Rule


6. Tithing, or giving money to the church


7. Church membership or attendance


8. Prayers


9. Water baptism


10. Holy communion


11. Born of Christian parents


12. Confirmation


13. Penance

How do you think you did? Keep reading and see how you scored.

EXPLANATION:

If you checked one or more of the above items, you failed the test. Don't feel badly though, most people do fail. Most are to some degree "religious", but religions are nothing more than man-made attempts to reach God.

The real answer to how to get to Heaven is not found in some religious system or by man's self-righteousness. God has declared that "there is none righteous, no not one" (Romans 3:10). "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23).

Further, God's Word teaches that sin is a very serious matter. 2 Thessalonians 1:9 tells of "everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord." Anyone who is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fire (Revelations 20:15).

What can you do about your sin problem? Can you clean up your life, do good works and hope that in the end your good works will outweigh your bad works? No! Salvation does not come to those who work for it, but to those who cease from their own works, placing their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 4:5 makes that point abundantly clear: "To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness." In Ephesians 2:8 & 9, it is declared, "For by grace are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast."

The issue is not what you can do for God, but what He has done for you. "But God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). "He hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Corinthians 5:21). You have no righteousness of your own. To have eternal life you must have the righteousness of Christ (see Romans 3:26).

What then is your responsibility? God has given you a free will to either accept or reject what He has done for you. To have God's righteousness, you must believe that "Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; and that He was buried; and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (1 Corinthians 15:3,4).

Your response to the gospel should be as we read of the Ephesians: "In Whom (the Lord Jesus Christ) ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promise" (Ephesians 1:13). This seal is a guarantee that your salvation is eternal - you can never lose it (see Ephesians 1:14, 4:30, 2 Corinthians 1:22).

At this very moment you have the responsibility of making a decision. If you are convinced by God's Word, you can be saved right now: Simply make the decision in your heart to trust completely and exclusively in the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ as the total payment to God for our sins. The moment you do, God will forgive you all your sins and save you from spending eternity in the Lake of Fire.

The choice is now up to you.... What did you decide? If you trusted Christ today, or if you have any questions, please contact us. We are eager to share more with you from God's Word. Our goal, as an assembly, is the same as God's and His will for all of us and that is for all men to be saved and come unto the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). We hope this was a help to you. If you know someone who needs to see this truth, please send this on to them. Again, feel free to make a comment or contact us with any question you may have. Until next time, Grace and Peace to all.

Welcome To The New GBC Blog

Welcome to the new Grace Bible Church blog. For those of you who are not familiar with our assembly, our assembly meets in small town a few miles outside of Decatur, Illinois called Casner. The assembly was founded by Bishop Carl Hayes who is still preaching the word of God rightly divided along with his son; Bishop Greg Hayes. We believe that the KJV Bible is the correct Bible and is the final authority. We meet on Sunday's at 10 a.m. and would love for you to join us. In the future, we hope to keep you updated with things going on in our assembly and maybe messages from our members and from Bishop Carl and Bishop Greg. So, keep checking our blog for the latest and please feel free to ask questions and someone will get back with you. Until the next post, Grace and Peace to all.